17.4.17

Teen shoots two cops while "fearing for his safety"

A teen gunman in Detroit blasted a cop's face through a door — believing the two officers outside his home were burglars after reporting a Sunday night break-in attempt, police said.

The 19-year-old opened fired on two officers with a shotgun “fearing for the safety” of his mother and brother, Detroit police Chief James Craig said at a media briefing on Monday.

He had already called police three times believing his family’s home along Lesure Road in west Detroit was being targeted by several break-in attempts on Sunday.

The gunfire critically wounded the cop on the porch around 11:45 p.m. while shrapnel struck another officer in the arm, Craig said.

Both officers were rushed to Sinai Grace Hospital. The shot cop — a two-year veteran of the force — remains in critical condition while the other is expected to be OK. The second officer has been with Detroit Police Department for at least 18 months.

Craig said the gunman, his mother and 14-year-old brother were taken into custody after the shooting.

The woman's oldest son may have not known the officer was at the door, Craig added.